Endorphins – The Magical Hormone Jacob Gordon

If you rode a NYC subway train in the summer you probably remember eBay’s summer advertisements of “windorphins”, things that rush through the body when you win an auction on eBay. These ads were actually referring to endorphins, which are endogenous opioid polypeptide compounds that are produced in the pituitary gland (at the base of the brain) and hypothalamus (linking the nervous system and endocrine system) during strenuous exercise, excitement, and orgasm, otherwise known as states of exhilaration or well-being.

The term endorphin consists of two parts: endo- and –orphin, which come from endogenous and morphine, thus creating endorphin, a morphine-like substance originating in the body. The endorphins are released into the blood, and enter the brain in small quantities, and give a good feeling throughout the body.

Another similar effect of endorphin production is the so-called “runner’s high”, which refers to runners uncontrollable smiling and overall joy during and after running a marathon. The runner’s high happens when strenuous exercise brings someone over the threshold that activates endorphin production, which corresponds with the time that muscles use up their stored glycogen. Workouts that are most likely to produce endorphins are running, swimming, cross-country skiing, long distance rowing, bicycling, weight lifting, aerobics, or playing sports such as basketball, soccer, or football.

References:

1. http://www.sportsmedicine.upmc.com/MySportRunningHigh.htm#Endorphin

2. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3725516